Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Xi Jinping , the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee at the core, the Chinese people are fearless of any dangers and difficulties, have shown outstanding wisdom, and have taken many active and effective measures in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 that has been raging in China for nearly three months. We firmly believe that China and the Chinese people are about to usher in a victorious, nationally celebrated and warm spring.

China ITF has been actively responding to the country’s call, convened a high-level meeting urgently, and promptly canceled the "7th China ITF Congress" scheduled to be held in February 2020, and also apply to the ATF and KTC to cancel "the 10th Asian ITF Taekwon‑Do Championships.

China ITF has always been under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) since its establishment. Although the cancellation of this international competition has caused a huge loss in economy, credibility and resources, all ITF taekwondoists in China are willing to join hands with the whole country to fight against the epidemic and contribute to the stability and prosperity of our motherland.

Since January 2020, the ITF, ATF, KTC and more than 20 countries around the world have sent letter of sympathies to China ITF, expressing greetings and blessings. The letters expressed great concern about the situation of the Chinese people against the epidemic, as well as the safety of all ITF taekwondoists in China. At the same time, they expressed affirmation and praise for the Chinese people's determination, capability and methods of fighting the epidemic. All ITF colleagues said that China has made great contributions to the world, set an example for the people in the world to fight the epidemic, and earned time for the people of the world, which deserves the respect of people all over the world.

Mr. Zhang Guangjun, president of China ITF on behalf of all ITF members in China, expressed his sincere gratitude and sincere blessings to the care of the ITF, ATF, KTC and ITF associations in various countries, and thank them for their warm greetings to China during the epidemic . At the same time, President Mr. Zhang Guangjun also extended an invitation to everyone, and welcomed everyone to have friendly exchanges with China after the epidemic. China ITF will do its best to welcome everyone.

According to statistics from the WHO, as of today, the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 worldwide will reach 150,000, and the number of countries and regions affected by the epidemic has exceeded 100. Although China has adopted the most comprehensive, strictest and most thorough prevention and control measures, the epidemic situation has been well controlled, but the multi-point outbreak and spread worldwide has made epidemic fighting a matter for people all over the world, and it is about everyone’s personal safety. The Chinese government has also mobilized all efforts to donate a large number of medical supplies and support funds needed for the COVID-19 outbreak to the world. At the same time, in the face of the COVID-19 as a cunning enemy, China is struggling to fight the epidemic, but also the first time to share information and carry out scientific research cooperation with other countries. A timetable is a record of China's solid efforts to fulfill its international responsibilities and join hands with the international community to combat the disease.

China ITF has been following the situation of epidemic prevention and control in the world. After learning that China's Pu'er tea can not only have very good effects on the prevention of the COVID-19, but also can help patients recover effectively, President Mr. Zhang Guangjun immediately sent emails with expressions of sympathy and support to more than 100 countries around the world, and he timely sent a certain amount of high-end Pu'er tea and disposable medical masks to the ITF HQs, ATF HQs, and the national associations that replied the delivery address to help everyone overcome the difficulties.

Among them, the Latvian ITF Association needed to go abroad to participate in the competition and asked China ITF for help. In the case of shortage of supplies, China ITF sent 200 disposable medical masks to the Latvian ITF Association for use by athletes during the competition.

Xinhua News Agency reported that on the evening of March 12, Beijing time, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres at his request.

The epidemic has once again demonstrated that mankind is a community with a shared future that shares weal and woe, Xi stressed, adding that in the era of economic globalization, COVID-19 will not be the world's last major emergency, and various traditional and non-traditional security issues will constantly bring about new tests. The international community has to see humanity as one community with a shared future, look out for one another, and join hands to tackle risks and challenges and build a beautiful planet, said the Chinese president.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Xi said China supports the international community in taking that as an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism, and reinforce and improve the global governance system with the United Nations at the core.

China ITF has always believed that, with the joint efforts of people all over the world, the global COVID-19 will be controlled quickly and completely eliminated in the near future.

In the face of the epidemic, all ITF family members around the world need to stand together and unite as one, to tide over the difficulty and achieve more successes.

One Federation, One Dream.

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Dear ITF Members,

In light of the increasing concern related to the evolving coronavirus outbreak, it is important that athletes and officials that are preparing for internationally sanctioned ITF events stay informed and understand how to best protect themselves from illness.

This update is informed by information collated from the World Health Organization (WHO) and includes direct extracts from previously published guidelines.

Recommendations for International Travel

Athletes may encounter travel disruption as several countries and airlines around the world implement precautionary measures, including screening and quarantine measures. Travel restrictions to/from other countries are largely the result of decisions taken by the local national public health authorities. Such measures have impacted several international sport events around the world, and athletes are encouraged to check travel advices regularly and to consult with competition organizers for specific advisories and/or decisions prior to travel.

In the interim, it is advisable to limit all non-essential travel to geographical locations at higher risk.

Prevention of Illness

In terms of managing the spread of the virus, the following principles apply:

• The WHO does not recommend any specific measures such as isolation unless people experience any symptoms suggestive of acute respiratory illness either during or after travel;
• Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections;
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water for 25 seconds duration, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment and use alcohol-based hand rubs (applied to clean hands), both regularly and before meals;
• Avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals;
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash their hands) and if this occurs after travel, report as soon as possible to health care practitioners.

Do not act against any travel advice from the WHO, or the relevant local authorities of the country you intend to visit.

The link is a useful YouTube video from the WHO that gives more information about the coronavirus: YouTube - Corona Viruses

As the situation continues to evolve, please refer to the local government resources for the latest updates.

Thank you for your assistance in adhering to these important guidelines.

ITF HQ

Download the above letter for your convenience - ITFHQ letter on precautionary measures against coron virus epidemic,9Mar2020

Dear ITF EB members and Chairpersons of ITF Standing Committee
Dear ITF NGB Representatives
Dear ITF Grand Masters, Masters and Instructors
Dear Taekwon‑Doists and the family members of the ITF

Dear all,

Now we are seeing out the year 2019 which recorded a new landmark in the history of Taekwon‑Do and in the hopeful New Year 2020.

The year 2019 was a meaningful year with distinguished traces in the history of the ITF.

The 27th ITF Congress and the 21st ITF Taekwon‑Do  World championship were held with a great success under the active participation and positive efforts of all the ITF Taekwon‑Doists, through which a new ITF leadership was formed for further strengthening and developing the ITF in conformity with the new ear while the unity and ever-developing images of our Federation was fully displayed the ITF Demo with the  WT in Lausanne and Geneva.

The ITF Demo Team’s demonstrations were the great hits and recorded the historical moments that manifested superiority of the Original Taekwon‑Do and the noble spirits of the ITF aspiring to build a more peaceful and better world, and served as significant occasions showing off the noble intention of ITF to make positive contribution to the healthy development of the world’s martial-arts and  sports with one unified Taekwon‑Do.

Moreover, ties of friendship and unity between all the Taewon-Doists were cemented and the Original Taekwon‑Do was popularized on a wider scale through the successfully – held Continental, Regional & National Championships, a number of International and functions.

All the successes made by the ITF in 2019 were attributed wholly to the noble spirits and positive efforts of all the ITF Taekwon‑Doists with sincere hearts to contribute to the sound spiritual and moral cultivation of the humankind, promotion of health, harmony and prosperity of the society.

The year 2020 is a significant year greeting the 65th Anniversary of Naming Takwon-Do.

In this year, the World Cup Taekwon‑Do Games, the first ever in the history of the ITF, will be held in Argentina amidst the expectation from all the Taekwon‑Doists and the world’s interest according to the decision of the 27th ITF Congress, and the 9th IMG in Cheboksary, Russia.

This clearly shows that Taekwon‑Do, the traditional martial arts of Korea, has reached a high phase of the world-wide popularization as a world-famous martial art, due to its profound philosophy, high techniques and noble spirits within the short term of 65 years.

All the ITF Taekwon‑Do Practitioners should have to fulfill their obligations for the great success of the World Cup Taekwon-Do Games and the 9th IMG with their active participation in them.

I assure you that the Taekwon‑Doists of the whole would observe another eye-opening event in the New Year.

Greeting a hopeful New Year, on behalf of the ITF, I wish all the Taekwon‑Doists and their family members a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all the martial artists and the international sports world.

Yours in Taekwon‑Do,

Prof. Ri Yong So
President
International Taekwon‑Do Federation
International Martial Art Games Committee